Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister, Ben Kapita, says his dream was to make Zambia a home of agriculture on the African continent in the next four years.
Mr Kapita called on Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) to quickly open up
branches in all rural areas to enable small- scale farmers, access banking
facilities if they are to grow into commercial farmers.
Mr Kapita said he was not happy to see only 14 per cent of land being used for
agricultural purposes, adding that he wanted to see all the 1.3 million small-scale
farmers becoming commercial producers of maize.
The Minister was speaking today during the 81st Agriculture and Commercial Show
Society Luncheon in Lusaka today sponsored by Zambia National Commercial Bank
(ZANACO)
.He said Zambia was capable of producing more than five million metric tonnes of
maize per year, and challenged small-scale farmers to compete with commercial
farmers so that there is enough maize both for consumption and export.
At the same function, ZANACO Director, Mark Wilsen, has promised that his bank will
ensure that it fulfils all its major social roles for the benefit of Zambians.
Mr Wilsen says the first major step the financial institution is expected to take is
to open banking services to rural areas to improve economic activities in the area.
He revealed that the first district to benefit from its rural services is Senanga
district in Western Province where the financial institution will open a branch
soon.
And the ZANACO Director disclosed that ZANACO has embarked on training and
development of people with the help of the Netherlands, which pumped in more than
US$3 million.
The Managing Director assured Government that ZANACO has a long term vision, and
will sustain its 11,000 employees to meet the demand of the stiff competition in
line with this year’s show theme, ‘Economic Empowerment’.
Mr Wilsen saluted President Levy Mwanawasa for ensuring that the privatisation of
ZANACO was successfully concluded, in which the Netherlands got 49 per cent shares
while 51 shares remaining with Zambians.
